We are Vale Real Estate.
We’ve learned a thing or two about real estate over the last 20 years. Every property is different however our approach remains the same - conscientious, thorough and commercial.
We advise stakeholders on all aspects of development, asset and debt management on town centres, shopping centres and retail parks solving todays issues and preparing for tomorrows challenges.
Whitgift Centre, Croydon
Langney Shopping Centre, Eastbourne
Langney Shopping Centre, Eastbourne
Trinity Square, Nottingham
Trinity Square, Nottingham
Brighton Marina, Brighton
Martineau Square, Birmingham
The Strand, Bootle
The Walnuts, Orpington
Garden Square, Letchworth
Northfield Shopping Centre, Birmingham
Newlands Shopping Centre, Kettering
County Square, Ashford
St. Crispins House, Norwich
Spindles Town Square, Oldham
The Haymarket, Leicester
Oak Mall, Greenock
The Gates, Durham
Church Square, St Helens
Craven Court, Skipton
Swansgate Shopping Centre, Wellingborough
The Cornbow, Halesowen
Ankerside Shopping Centre, Tamworth
Meridian Shopping Centre, Havant
Reindeer Court, Worcester
About Us
To date we have advised on over 6,000,000 sq. ft of shopping centres across the UK.
For almost 20 years, Vale Real Estate has dealt in all aspects of development, investment, asset management and capital structuring. Since the purchase of its first shopping centre, The Cornbow in Halesowen in 2002, Vale Real Estate has grown into an experienced team of trusted property and finance professionals.
In a sophisticated, challenging and ever-changing market, our Partners demand in-depth analysis leading to clear bespoke strategies, achievable goals and superior market performance.
Innovative strategies for each real estate business set the foundations for considered management plans. Intensively pursued, our strategies deliver market-beating performance for each asset and our relentless attention to key performance targets drives profitable over achievement.
We have advised on over 6,000,000 sq. ft of shopping centres across the UK to date, encompassing both out-of-town and high street development and investment. This has afforded us the opportunity to work with some of the UK’s leading institutions, banks, private equity investors and family offices.
Vale Real Estate is uniquely placed to create tangible and sustainable capital ROI by applying highly personalised, focused attention in our four core competencies – Asset Management, Development Management, Investment Strategy and Debt Restructure.
Our Mission
The UK's retail landscape is changing as never before. Retail is experiencing structural and permanent realignment. Currently, debate centres around 'repositioning, restructuring, replacing, renewing and recreating’. We have been doing this for over 20 years, navigating sustainable, productive and profitable change on behalf of our Clients and Partners.
We create community-focused retail hubs, shopping centres, destinations and sustainable town centres. We work intensely, focusing on a small number of investment and development projects.
Our Work
At Vale we have four core competencies.
Asset Management
Development Management
Investment Strategy
Debt Restructure
Our Schemes
Asset Management
Islington Square
Asset management and pre-leasing advice on the 500,000 sq. ft mixed use development. Co-ordinating residential sales, tenant mix strategy and rent modelling.
Langney Shopping Centre
A 175,000 sq. ft district shopping centre in Eastbourne, anchored by Tesco, Iceland and Boots with a 52,000 sq. ft extension and a major pre-let to Home Bargains. We asset manage the existing scheme and providing development management services in relation to the recently completed eastern extension.
Forest Centre
A small district shopping centre in East Hampshire adjacent to a Lidl supermarket and a Wilko's store. Tenants include Boots, Poundstretcher, McColls and Anytime Fitness.
We provide asset management of the existing shopping centre and have co-ordinated site sub-sales within the strategic plan for the entire development.
Development Management
Tame Trade and Leisure Park
A former Central Midlands Co-Op store now being developed into a mixed-use retail and trade counter scheme, let to Lidl and B&M with further space for trade counter units and two drive-thrus.
Clacton Trade and Leisure Park
Site adjacent to the Waterglade Retail Park, purchased from National Grid. Tenants include Starbucks, Pitstop and Topps Tiles.
St. Crispin’s House, Norwich
Secured planning consent for up to 700 student bedrooms in one of Norwich’s largest office buildings. Sale of development site with the benefit of planning consent proceeding.
Boston
Fully let to F1 Auto Centres and Tool Station. Forward funded and due for completion Spring 2021.
Spalding
A forward funded roadside development let to tenants including Starbucks, Snap Fitness, Tool Station and Greggs.
Our Team
Christopher Willans
With a career in commercial property spanning 35 years, Christopher is one of the most experienced commercial development and asset managers in the UK. After starting at Churston Heard (now JLL) and becoming their youngest ever Partner, he joined boutique retail agency, Oliver Liggins, becoming Senior Partner and subsequently Founding Partner of Capital Retail, before going on to establish Vale in 2002.
Christopher has worked in all sectors of the commercial property market. Highlights include introducing Disney stores to the UK, leading him to work with Nordic Track and Footlocker, and introducing a number of European retailers to the UK, including Agatha, Daniel Boudon and Coccinelle. As an advisor, he has been key in ground-breaking development schemes, such as the J Sainsbury’s purchase and subsequent development of the St Albans Retail Park and the Helical Retail development of the UK’s largest B&Q at Bolton Gate Retail Park. Christopher also advised Morley Properties on the development of Trinity Square, Nottingham, a mixed-use retail leisure and student housing scheme of 270,000 sq. ft, at that time the largest development of its kind in the East Midlands.
Contact
07715 001007
c.willans@valerealestate.co.uk
LinkedIn
Mark Wills-Williams
Mark has amassed 30 years of experience in the retail property market and has worked in all sectors, including agency, development, in-house advisory and asset management. Previously Retail Department Head at Erdman Lewis (Colliers), he went on to become Head of Retail Agency at Atis Real (now BNP Paribas), before joining DTZ (now Cushman & Wakefield) as Head of International Leasing.
Mark has worked on a number of retail administrations, including Office Outlet and Bath Store with Deloitte, BDO and Hilco. He advised TK Maxx on their entry into the UK market and was involved in the pre-leasing of the Colosseum Centre in Bucharest, a 1,500,000 sq. ft mixed-use development. As the Asset Manager for Sager Developments, Mark co-ordinated the leasing and residential sales on the 500,000 sq. ft Islington Square mixed-use development. He has worked with sunrise records following their acquisition of HMV, co-ordinating lease restructure discussions with landlords.
Contact
07721 892959
m.wills-williams@valerealestate.co.uk
LinkedIn
Ruairi Conneely
Upon leaving a successful career in banking in 2006, Ruairi forged a reputation for innovative finance solutions in all aspects of funding in the commercial real estate market.
In that time Ruairi has been providing equity and debt solutions to developers and investors throughout Europe and has enjoyed particular success with transactions in the UK, Spain, France and Eastern Europe.
Following the banking crisis, he returned his focus to the UK market and was actively involved in advisory, restructuring and funding on behalf of Owners with distressed assets. He has been successful in funding distressed loan portfolios from Santander, BBVA, SAREB and Banca March.
Ruairi continues to focus on the UK market, where he can provide advisory services, restructuring, workouts, impairments, asset acquisition and loan portfolio management.
Contact
07711 771216
r.conneely@valerealestate.co.uk
LinkedIn
Maximilian Wussler
Maximilian has extensive experience working in events management and marketing, having developed and managed international sporting events in Switzerland, South Africa and the United Kingdom. His experience as the Head of Marketing and Communications (UK) at Golazo, one of Europe’s leading events management and sports marketing companies, has enabled him to bring unique insights to Vale Real Estate regarding customer engagement, footfall analysis and consumer behaviour.
His expertise in innovative marketing techniques, data analysis, digital marketing, and creating memorable event experiences allows Vale Real Estate and its clients to redefine the retail experience. Maximilian holds a BSc in International Business and an MSc in Sport Business and Innovation from Loughborough University.
Contact
07444 266740
m.wussler@valerealestate.co.uk
LinkedIn
Christine Drury
At Vale Real Estate Christine leads on cashflow analysis and treasury functions. She deals with in-house management of investment assets held on behalf of the Directors, outside investors and clients.
Christine has extensive experience working with Managing Directors, Senior Directors and Executives at all levels of the Board. Having begun her career at Nelson Bakewell (now Capita Property) in February 1998, she moved to the Arcadia Group in November 2014, where she worked with Dorothy Perkins Brand Director, Head of HR and Multi-Channel Director, before joining Vale as Head of Administration in September 2015.
Contact
07979 223775
c.drury@valerealestate.co.uk
LinkedIn
Why Vale?
With our work in Retail Asset Management, we bring innovation, experience, enthusiasm and an intensity to each asset we work with.
We analyse, strategise and action.
We have been doing this successfully for over 20 years.
News
Langney Shopping Centre
Eastern extension completed on time and on budget with pre-lets to Home Bargains, Costa and Anytime Fitness signed.
Spalding
Successfully forward funded roadside scheme completing Spring 2021.
Boston
Fully forward funded scheme open for trade Summer 2021.
St. Crispin’s House
Max Wussler
Secured planning consent for 700 student bedrooms in one of the city’s largest office buildings. Sale of development site with the benefit of planning consent proceeding.
Max has recently joined as our Director of Data Dynamics analysing the detail of consumer patterns, demand and movements. Max has a wealth of experience in this market throughout Europe and will bring an invaluable unique dimension to Vale Real Estate Asset Management functions.
New Office
As a result of our ongoing growth and activity, we have moved to larger offices at Linen Hall, 162-168 Regent Street, London W1B 5TD.
Contact Us